tiny happy

I wanted to share some of my textile-hunting adventures in Japan, which were probably more wide-ranging than these photos suggest. I found that sometimes I got so excited by what I was doing and seeing on my travels that I forgot to document with my camera! But that doesn't matter at all, really.

I've admired the work of Naomi Ito (Nani Iro) ever since coming across it online perhaps twelve years ago now. It wasn't until i was in Osaka, and wearing one of my tops made from her fabric, that I realised I might seek out her studio. Travel is so much easier now we have Google Maps and all manner of online resources, and I even found these detailed directions to help me. In the end I went a different way, but was thrilled to find her studio on my own without too many problems. 

It's a special place because not only are the most recent Nani Iro fabrics on display and for sale, but you can also find lots of fabrics from past seasons for sale, both by the metre and in pre-cut pieces. I bought a few pieces (you can see my purchases in the second photo above) that I absolutely adore, and of course I rather wish I'd bought more, now. But I was trying not to be too acquisitive and I knew I'd have to carry them around in my small suitcase for the rest of the trip! I also bought a special book with sewing patterns for a range of clothes using Nani Iro fabric.

The women at the shop were very kind and gave me another book, with poems written by Naomi and accompanying photographs that inspired the most recent textile collection.

Nani Iro fabrics have a beautiful artistic vibe, and the designs are painted with watercolour before they are printed. I like this quote from the artist herself (taken from an interview) 

I paint to spin a tale that portrays a kind of comfort, that makes people happy when they feel it on their skin. I paint in the hope that each textile will be like a single poem, a single letter.

You can buy Nani Iro fabrics online, and read a rare interview with Naomi Ito here.

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As well as some exhibitions, galleries with handmade items, a flea market and other stores, I also visited WALNUT, a sweet little knitting shop in Tokyo. There's also a store in Kyoto, but it was closed when we were there. It reminded me a lot of our own local beauty Holland Road Yarns, with many of the same products for sale. WALNUT is where the magazine Amirisu is produced and they also produce their own hand-dyed yarn which is called Parade. I had to buy two skeins in that glorious dusky pink shade, which I entirely blame on the blossom season outside the window.

Japan is well known for its craft and dressmaking fabrics. I managed to visit one fabric store while I was in Osaka: Toraya, in Shinsaibashi.
There are several floors of sample fabrics on display, and if you want to buy something you tell an attendant who takes your order. After a ten minute wait, you can collect your order at the counter. So much better than lugging around giant rolls of fabric, like we do here!

At Toraya I ordered a few pieces of cotton and linen (my plan for these is knitting project bags for my etsy shop… hopefully soon!), and also bought a length of chirimen fabric (you can see that above, alongside the yarn). I wanted to get something authentically Japanese. Chirimen is a silky crepe fabric with a lot of drape, often used to make kimono and furoshiki wrapping. With this I hope to make a simple top or jacket for work. 

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I feel so lucky to have been able to explore this beautiful country, even if just for a couple of weeks. I'm dreaming of going back for a longer trip one day. In the meantime, I have plenty of making and remembering to do.

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